2023 Grassroots enduro series

As I didn't want to highjack your original thread I said I'd start a specific one🤔😂

Last year (from memory) they opened 2 or 3 weeks before each individual event. Out of the 4 events last year 3 of them sold out in minutes or even less than that. With only Ballinaboola taking a bit longer to sell out. But Ballinaboola did have extra places so that's probably the reason. For 2023, there will be extra places where venues can accommodate them and with an extra race this might help with to alleviate some of the stress of entering.

I definitely think you should give them a go. From my limit expectations and also a newbie, It's a very relaxed and encouraging atmosphere, nobody really cares if your slow or quick, or how much your bike cost.

I didn't realise that it was a bit more full on tb. Now I'm not really complaining either. I'd much prefer the more natural stuff that the trail center trails tbh. I'd like to think that I'll make it back up there again over the summer months for another spin.

I have actually been there a few times., including the grassroots last year, Definitely not as steep, and as you say, very well built trails. Nasty push up there as well though 🤣.

Have you been to Clonmel?

I see that entries are going on sale on Monday 1st May for the next round in Clonmel on the 21 May.

Anyone from these parts planning to take part?

As these are my local trails I'm really looking forward to the event. I know I wouldn't get a full days riding in as I'll be helping out on the day, but should get in all 3 stages once anyway.

Happy to answer a few questions if anyone has any.

Tight and techy would be the most accurate description I'd say. Very little in the way of gnarly stuff. Small bit yankkey in places but thats to be expected. It could also suit the more physical and fitter rider more so that some one doing that only used of shorter runs. You would comfortably do all in less that 2hrs.

Brief description,

Full Trottle is 1.42km 180m elevation. KOM is 3.47 There is an open section towards the end that you can get in some pedals if you want to make time, "Bastard cat" (don't ask😂) is the shortest at 650m KOM is around 3 minutes. But that time will get blown out of it by the fast guys, especially if it dry. If its wet, the bottom 2 section is quite rooty, so that could be fun😂. "Thunderstruck" about 1.2k long, is a really fun trail. The top section "Cannonball run" Very small bit of bike park stuff in it, small jump that you can double, into a nice big double into a shark fin, big burm, into small double, that you have to scrub speed of before you go back into the trees as there's a drop into it, that's class, but if you're going to fast, the picture will be great to look at after 😂. The bottom section can get tricky in the wet also. There is a few nice little drops but everything is very rollable between all the trails.

There will be so snake little lines that may not be seen too. Most of it is straight forward, just follow the trail, however there may be parts of some of the trails that will be tape wide where they can, so there might be a option of two

Thats not ideal really. Hopefully you'll be back in time..

Here is a link to a little video clip that one of our club members done for the Grassroots enduro race held by Clonmel mountain bike club.

I hope you can get a sense of the day.

Yeah he came across very well. That was the former chairman, he kinda got land with the voice over thing and done it on the fly.

Entries for Bree are on sale at the moment

I see Hush sold out in minutes last night. I managed to get an entry even though I'm not 100% sure if I'll be there. It's mad that the sell out so fast. I believe that the Gravity had less than 100 entries.

Anyone else planning on doing it?

I was up there a few weeks ago, one of the locals said that I actually rode some of the trails but he said it could well be a mixture and didn't give any more information out🙄.

I actually know 2 looking as well. 😉. They limited the number of entries to 200 due to parking restrictions. So that's what a good few missed out

Keep an eye out on grassroots FB page. I believe that there will be more spots released on Wednesday evening 😉

Apparently the numbers were limited due to parking, but they have managed to get more parking sorted out

No problem at all 👍

Unfortunately I didn't get to go. I didn't fancy the approx 5hr round trip, to get a soaking. I hear the trails stood up pretty good all the same.

Yeah for sure the weather certainly didn't help GR this year. Clonmel was by far the driest of them all.

Guess that's it then fir this year. I'm considering doing the gravity in Cahir this weekend as its local enough to me. I'm just finding it hard to justify the cost over and above Grassroots. The mash up is basically the same thing but €20 more expensive 🙄

To be honest I'm fairly new to mountain biking. So I can't really comment on it. I've done 3 of the Grassroots this year and really enjoyed them. I also done the mash up in Cahir last year. Totally bias opinion but Clonmel easy fantastic. (conditions helped) and I know they're already planning next year's event.

For what I can gather, the cost is putting of some people doing Gravity, that and a few lads saying some of the trails weren't much better that bike centre stuff.

Edit. Just had a look there. It's €75.00 for the classic and €55.00 for the mash up.

I think the biggest difference there is GR is club run. So they can put the work into the trails for weeks before hand if needed. I believe GE is privately run and they just come in a few days before so there is less time to change things up. I know Clonmel are hoping to hold. GE next year as well as GR, these for the most part will be on completely different trails. As there's plenty of choice. But some of the members were saying that it's down to GE which trails they use.

"Disappointing, as I knew a few lads who missed out on tickets and were dying to enter."

Feel guilty for not going now.